2. Carmelo Anthony
It is crazy to think that Carmelo Anthony’s career was almost over until the Portland Trail Blazers decided to take a flier on him as a role player. Anthony obviously is not the same player that he used to be and he is getting up there in age and is a liability on the defensive side of the court.
But if he is willing to take a new contract with the Lakers and perhaps play a slightly smaller role next season then the team would be foolish to pass on it. Melo probably should not even have the role that he has this season but he has it because of necessity.
Slightly reduced his playing time to keep him fresh and to limit any defensive issues and spot him up at the three-point line and let him go to work. Carmelo is one of the greatest scorers of this generation and his ability to transition that into being one of the best catch-and-shoot three-point shooters in the league has been a pretty sight to see.
Plus, he is good friends with LeBron James and with all of the tension between him and the Lakers recently it would be a good thing to keep LeBron happy. Both of these new contracts are not only rewarding players who have earned it, but are keeping LeBron in a good space with the team.